Horse Racing: Kauto Star on the road to recovery from infection
Owner of Kauto Star, Clive Smith reported this Friday that the horse’s recovery is going rather swiftly and smoothly from the mild infection that he was revealed, by blood tests, to have after his unexpected and shocking loss
in the previous weekend’s King George VI Chase.
Kauto Star, who is eleven years of age, had been aiming at a fifth victory in Kempton’s showpiece race to make his name in the horse racing history but in a surprising turn of events, finished just after Long Run and Riverside Theatre, both of whom are trained
by Nicky Henderson. He was, however, reported to have bled - for the first time in his successful career - after the event.
The blood tests that were taken after the race revealed Kauto Star to have a low-grade infection and signs of inflammation were present but according to Smith, the recovery of the popular chaser is going well.
Smith was reported as saying, “I’ve seen him this morning and he is in good shape. He is recovering after his exertions and had a slight infection that has been treated by the vets this week so he is looking good for a gradual recovery.”
After the King George Chase, rumours of Kauto Star’s retirements sprang up which trainer Paul Nicholls quickly and effectively quashed and went on to say that Kauto, after recovering sufficiently, would go on to take part in the Cheltenham Festival and will
be aiming for a victory in the Totesport Gold Cup, for with the colt’s odds are calculated to be as big as 10-1.
Renowned trainer Nicholls has been very optimistic and vocal during this entire week about his belief that Kauto Star can win the Gold Cup for a third time, even though the racehorse’s position has fallen from number one to number six in the official jumps
rankings. Nicholls has also urged Kauto Star’s fans and connections to lend their support to both trainer and horse so that Kauto may be able to participate in the Gold Cup and win.
The decrease in Kauto Star’s official rating to 174 – the lowest it has been for the superstar chaser in about five years - has consequently put him behind horses such as Imperial Commander, stablemates Denman and Master Minded Long Run and Riverside Theatre
(to both of who he lost the Kempton race to) and the late Twist Magic, another horse trained by Paul Nicholls.
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